Minneapolis – Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney bemoaned not hitting big play after big play. He couldn’t draw any sympathy from a Colorado State team that had trouble hitting almost any play.
CSU had reasonable success Saturday, containing Maroney to 133 yards and two touchdowns. Another six Minnesota touchdowns, including a blocked punt, CSU’s inability to run the ball, more special- teams breakdowns and the usual deficit in the turnover column contributed to a 56-24 demise.
“It was an ugly win, even though we had 56 points,” Maroney confessed.
Two fourth-quarter touchdown passes by CSU backup quarterback Caleb Hanie kept the final score from accurately reflecting Minnesota’s domination over the winless Rams. Most of the 40,221 in the Metrodome left early in the final quarter, when the Gophers led 49-10.
“Coming in at halftime down 22-10, we thought we could go out on offense, get a quick score and we’d be right back in it,” said CSU linebacker Jahmal Hall, who led the first-half effort against Maroney.
Instead, the Gophers regrouped for a six-play, 70-yard drive capped by backup tailback Gary Russell’s 28-yard run. The Rams got no farther than their 23, and Minnesota responded with a drive to near midfield. Wide receiver Jared Ellerson then snuck behind cover to go in alone for a 54-yard touchdown from Bryan Cupito.
It was only after a blocked punt that the offense disintegrated. Starting quarterback Justin Holland threw his obligatory interception for the game, raising his total to five for the two-game season. Minnesota moved to the 3 only to stall on two Cupito incompletions.
Holland advanced the Rams to midfield, then sprained his ankle trying to slide. He fumbled on the play and starting guard Brandon Alconcel dislocated his elbow.
“We didn’t get a lot of opportunities in the first, but we weren’t taking advantage when things were open to us,” Holland said. “We felt when we came in we’d have a great opportunity to get back in the game.”
CSU settled for a 21-yard Kevin Mark field goal after the one special-teams breakthrough. George Hill returned a kickoff to midfield after Minnesota took a 10-0 lead. Holland hit Kory Sperry down to the 3, but running back Jimmy Green lost a yard and Holland threw two incomplete passes.
Colorado State’s offense never found its rhythm after Minnesota dominated time of possession in the first quarter, leaving CSU with the ball for only 4:19. The running game, which showed some progress in the opener, all but relapsed into last year’s oblivion.
After Green failed to move the ball, Gartrell Johnson fumbled on his first series, just as he did a year ago before ending his year with a medical redshirt.
Defensively, at least in the first half, Colorado State played well enough to frustrate Maroney. The All-America hopeful, coming off a 203-yard game against Tulsa, gained just 51 yards on his first 17 carries. His next carry, a 32-yard touchdown for a 22-3 lead with 5:12 to go before the half, placed him well on the way to his 15th career 100-yard day before halftime. He didn’t play after midway in the third quarter.
“We weren’t really hitting the big plays, and we want to keep hitting big play after big play,” Maroney said. “They ran some great schemes.”
Said CSU safety Miles Koch- evar after his second solid game: “We knew we could play with them, but we let them off the hook on too many third downs.”
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
